I've noticed an increase in activity around one of my colonies. I hadn't noticed any fighting so I ruled out robbing. Well I was wrong, these poor things have about been robbed out. On top of that the bottom medium box is riddled with wax moth. Tonight I plan to go in after dark and try to salvage what's left.

The only question I have is do the robbing bees go back to their hives at night.

I ask because last night I was going to simply expose these supers to open air and let them get cleaned out today. But when I opened the lid at about 10pm there were bees everywhere. Unsure weather or not these were the remains of this colony or robbers caught by the darkness.

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

Or leaving the pollen patties on too long, those are always good for drawing ants, small hive beetle, and wax moth to a hive. Leaving them on to long is like using herring to catch Salmon, darn good odds.

Logged

Life is a school. What have you learned? :brian: The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

No not yet been working. This is my first, hopefully my last. I just haven't ordered the BT yet. Just finished fixing what I could. Not much left. Didn't see a queen. Wouldn't be easy to see anyway by flashlight. New SSB, one medium new, new inner cover. They're sitting on drawn comb, maybe enough food for a couple of days. Only 3 to 4 hundred bees left. Come Saturday I'm going to check one more time for a queen. If none will combine with another colony.Man, I've seen pictures but reality is pretty graphic. What a mess. Every bit as destructive as SHB.

No not yet been working. This is my first, hopefully my last. I just haven't ordered the BT yet. Just finished fixing what I could. Not much left. Didn't see a queen. Wouldn't be easy to see anyway by flashlight. New SSB, one medium new, new inner cover. They're sitting on drawn comb, maybe enough food for a couple of days. Only 3 to 4 hundred bees left. Come Saturday I'm going to check one more time for a queen. If none will combine with another colony.Man, I've seen pictures but reality is pretty graphic. What a mess. Every bit as destructive as SHB.

Not as messy and putrid as the shb but I agree more destructive as they eat away at your wooden ware :(

Usually a hive with wax moths was caused by another problem-- a weak hive.

Or leaving the pollen patties on too long, those are always good for drawing ants, small hive beetle, and wax moth to a hive. Leaving them on to long is like using herring to catch Salmon, darn good odds.

ray, did you use any pollen supplements? you shouldn't have to i have 2 to 3 deep frames full of pollen in almost every hive right now and most of it was collected in the last 2 or 3 weeks. i'm actually concerned about being pollen bound pretty soon if it keeps up.

ray, did you use any pollen supplements? you shouldn't have to i have 2 to 3 deep frames full of pollen in almost every hive right now and most of it was collected in the last 2 or 3 weeks. i'm actually concerned about being pollen bound pretty soon if it keeps up.

Nope, I don't use them.. I found out about the relationship between patties and SHB last year. The Charleston area is SHB ground zero. I still have about 10lbs of patties in the freezer. I may try them again in the spring. IDK. I'm pretty sure that this hive got weakened one way or another.

Follow Up Report -- I went through the remaining bees with a fine tooth comb yesterday. I found no queen. I used what comb that I was able to salvage and combined them with another colony. I used no paper, I simply placed the box on the other colony and put on the cover. I saw no fighting it's like both colonies were happy for the help..Thanks for the replies and help. You all help with the decision making process. The experience, knowledge and generosity of the members of this forum has been my greatest asset.

Thanks Jim, Still don't mean I know anything. I hope with a few more years under my belt beekeeping and learning from the folks on this forum I'll be able to help others to be able to enjoy this passion we all share.